[mollems]

Airline companies don't want to buy aircraft because their highest-probability outcome is to declare bankruptcy (which happens about every 10 years for most major airlines in the US, it seems). Far simpler to tear up your lease than to dispose of large, expensive assets like aircraft as part of the bankruptcy.

[supercanuck]

My initial thought was your comment was bullshit, until I googled and read this article.

http://www.economist.com/node/21543195

[Spooky23]

As Richard Branson said, the easiest way to become a millionaire is to start with a billion and buy an airline.